Harbin Clinic Impacted by NRS Data Breach: 210,140 Affected

In early July 2024, a significant data breach occurred involving Nationwide Recovery Services, Inc. (NRS), a third-party vendor that provides debt collection services for Harbin Clinic. While Harbin Clinic’s own internal systems were not affected, the breach at NRS exposed sensitive information of individuals connected to Harbin Clinic and other healthcare organizations.

On July 11, 2024, NRS discovered suspicious activity on its network, resulting in a network outage. A forensic investigation determined that between July 5 and July 11, 2024, an unauthorized party gained access to the NRS network and illegally copied certain files and folders.

The breach was not immediately linked to specific individuals; it was only in February 2025 that NRS informed Harbin Clinic that patient information may have been present on the compromised systems. By March 20, 2025, Harbin Clinic received a list of affected individuals.

The exposed information includes personally identifiable information (PII) such as name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, and financial account information. In some cases, medical information may also have been involved, making this breach especially serious due to the combination of PII and potentially protected health information (PHI).

According to the Maine Attorney General’s data breach notification, a total of 210,140 individuals in the United States were affected, with 14 individuals in Maine (13 patients and 1 guarantor) specifically notified. Written notices were sent to affected consumers on May 16, 2025, outlining the details of the incident and the steps being taken in response.

Harbin Clinic’s response

Harbin Clinic responded promptly once notified of the incident. The clinic immediately blocked NRS’s access to its systems until a forensic investigation confirmed that the threat had been eradicated from the NRS network. Additionally, Harbin Clinic conducted its own review to ensure there were no signs of compromise within its internal network.

To support affected individuals, Harbin Clinic is offering a complimentary 24-month membership to Kroll identity monitoring services. This includes single bureau credit monitoring, fraud consultation, and identity theft restoration. Details on how to activate these services are included in the written notice sent to impacted individuals.

Given the nature of the breach—unauthorized access and copying of sensitive data from a third-party vendor’s systems—it is vital for those affected to remain vigilant. Harbin Clinic encourages everyone who may have been impacted to:

• Regularly monitor financial accounts for suspicious activity.
• Take advantage of the free credit monitoring and identity protection services.
• Review the reference guide provided in the notice for additional steps, such as placing fraud alerts or security freezes on credit files.

No evidence of identity theft or fraud related to this incident has been reported so far, but federal agencies recommend ongoing vigilance for at least 12 to 24 months after a potential exposure.

More information about the clinic can be found on the Harbin Clinic website.